Buggy/truck - electric or IC?

[Stig]

I'm thinking of getting another 'toy' for our place in France which has a couple of acres of paddock/woodland.

From that perspective, I'd be looking at an off-road r/c buggy or truck. It's pretty rough ground - so would need to handle bumpy terrain etc.

However, my question is whether to go electric or IC?

I know battery technology has come on leaps and bounds (not to mention motors), but you still have to charge the damn things. Noise is not a problem and I like the idea of gas-and-go for nitro. I have a few planes, so there's always nitro around, but petrol wouldn't be discounted either.

So - any suggstions?

Looking for large scale, bomb-proof (well, sturdy and easy to get parts at least) and fun

Over to you

[MElliottUK]

hpi baja 5b

[Mikey G]

MElliottUK said:

hpi baja 5b

Or an FG Marder.

Petrol cars seem easier to maintain than their smaller nitro brothers, and have the advantage of being a little cheaper and easier to run, i can get nearly an hours run time on my Gator from a full tank!!. No glow starter and a more reliable pull start (decent rope not cotton string) and the cars are generally tougher. Some of the FG's suffer from weak plastic drive gears but are replaceable with metal items.

If you want Nitro a HPi Savage would be good over rough ground, or maybe a 1/8th based truggy like the Hyper ST or HPi Hellfire would give loads of fun and be a bit tougher than the buggy versions they are based on.

[The_Jackal]

Yeah steer clear of electric, you will have much more fun with a nitro if you have the space. In terms of parts for the petrol ones, stick with HPI or FG as there are soo many people doing parts and upgrades (you WILL end up buying upgrade parts when you see what is available lol). I would also get yourself a couple of high capacity receiver batteries and a good charger. Even though you can run forever on petrol remember it is the battery that is controlling your throttle and brakes, so you dont want to run the battery right down till it doesnt respond.

If the land is your own you could probably set out a nice track for it to go round as well with some nice jumps.
Hey what the hell buy 2 or 3 and have races with your mates lol

[Bandoliero]

Hi this is my 1st post & may i say i am a Fan of FG's i have a Fg truck, marder, & an Evo 04 on road racer!

Fully Hopped up! all Aluminium parts, Sports exhausts etc... etc....

Loads of pics etc..

Even selling a few, would post a link, But am sure that would be against forum policy, as i just agreed to the rules!


HI ALL!!!!!

[pstruck]

MElliottUK said:

hpi baja 5b

I love my Baja 5B SS. 45mins to an hour of run time from one tank. The 6v receiver battery does three full tanks between charges. Quite high initial outlay, but running is very reasonable (normal UL petrol with 2 stroke oil mixed at 25/1). Things do and will break, depending on how hard you use it, but on the plus side parts are readily available, as are countless upgrades. Mine being the 'SS' meant it came in kit form too, which was enormous fun to build.

[Stig]

Blimey - I was thinking 20-25mins would be good, but an hour of running

Thanks for the tips - now off to surf for some bargains Will be back with the options list....

- and now back

Both the HPI and FG look good - but even though they're buggies, I'm wondering whether they'll have enough clearance in our paddock?

What about large scale petrol trucks/4x4s - any recommends?

Edited by Stig on Friday 30th May 15:17

[pstruck]

Stig said:

Both the HPI and FG look good - but even though they're buggies, I'm wondering whether they'll have enough clearance in our paddock?

Think you'd be surprised. I run mine around my sister's fields/paddock with no problems. Being 1/5 scale it is pretty large - wheels 160mm diameter, ground clearance approx 50-60mm.

Here's mine...

Edited by pstruck on Friday 30th May 16:35

[Mikey G]

Oh yes, plenty of ground clearance on these things, I regularly go over some rather rough ground with the Gator and I get no problems unless it is really really rough, and I have lowered my car down a bit to give it more stability.

[The_Jackal]

Yeah dont be put off with the term "buggy", they have plenty of clearance. I have mates who bash them over some really rough terrain.
Even though the monster truck type may seem bigger and badder, you may find that they dont handle as nimbly as the baja type.

I dont know the ins and outs of all the makes but I know if you have plenty of oney to spend the MCD Pro deset truck (i think) is one of the best. Otherwise the FG ones always come recommended with a massive community and aftermarket supporting them (and to be honest cheaper than the HPI Baja I think).
Personally I love the shape of the HPI Baja and is as tough as all the others under normal use and loads of options parts (although a bit overpriced to start with). There are HPI Baja "clones" for ahlf the price and to be honest seem just as good because they are made from the same moulds as the HPI stuff, so spares isnt a problem.

[Logie]

modelsport.co.uk have a selection of most of the good petrol if you want to browse a list

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFunction=Category...

[jollygreen]

Logie said:

modelsport.co.uk have a selection of most of the good petrol if you want to browse a list

http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFunction=Category...

Woah, I know fk-all about rc cars but at those prices I think I'd rather buy a banger jeep xj to chuck around a field!!!